PS4 Day-One Patch Is 300MB, Enables Online Multiplayer And More

The PlayStation 4 will get a day-one patch when it launches on November 15, Sony announced today. The patch is 300 megabytes, and it turns on a lot of features: Remote Play, sharing, broadcasting, and so forth. Without the patch, you won’t able to use any of that.

You won’t be able to play games online with other people until you download the patch. And some PS4 features won’t be available at launch, Sony says, like the suspend/resume mode that lets you set the system to low-power mode and then lets you pick up where you left off.

Via Sony, here’s the full list of features enabled by the day-one patch:

· Remote PlayUsers will be able to access PS4 titles displayed on their living room TVs and play them on a PS Vita system over Wi-Fi networks by using PS4 Link*2*3. SCE anticipates that most PS4 titles will be playable on the PS Vita system through Remote Play*4.
· Second ScreenUsers can use the PS4 Link*2 application for the PS Vita system, and PlayStation®App for iPhone, iPad, and Android™ based smartphones and tablets*5,to use these devices as second screens in supported titles. PlayStation®App has the ability to enable users to interact with games with their mobiles devices. For example onTHE PLAYROOM, a title pre-installed in all PS4 systems that requires PlayStation®Camera, users can draw pictures on their mobile device screens and flick them towards the TV. The images then appear as a 3D object within the game.
· Record, take screen shots, and upload gameplay effortlesslyThe PS4 system provides dedicated, “always on” video encoding systems that enables seamless uploading of gameplay. Users can share their epic triumphs by simply hitting the “SHARE button” on PS4 Wireless Controller (DUALSHOCK®4), take screenshots or scan through the last 15 minutes of gameplay, tag it and return to the game — the video uploads as the user plays. At the PS4 system’s launch in North America, users will be able to share their images and videos with friends on Facebook and screenshots with followers on Twitter*6.
· Broadcast and spectate gameplay The PS4 system also enhances social spectating by enabling users to broadcast their gameplay in real-time to game fans around the globe, using Ustream and Twitch*7 live internet streaming services. SCE provides two ways for users to view live broadcasts. First, the Live from PlayStation® application on PS4 aggregates streams from all PlayStation® users. Second, users can spectate friends’ PS4 gameplay from PCs, and applications such as Ustream, Twitch, and browsers, which are installed on their mobile devices. These applications can be easily started up via PlayStation®App, and users can also use these applications to post comments to gameplay broadcasts. Furthermore, users with PlayStation®Camera can stream camera images and microphone sounds along with their live gameplay broadcast.
· Play as you downloadThis feature enables users to play supported digital titles as they are being downloaded*8. When a game is purchased, users can start playing after PS4 downloads a portion of the data, while the rest of the game is downloaded in the background during actual gameplay. Games may be downloaded in stand-by mode.
· Multi log-inA maximum of 4 users can log-in to a single PS4 system simultaneously. These players can use their own save data to play games, and also earn trophies on their own Sony Entertainment Network accounts even when playing a multi-player game together on a single PS4 system*9.
· Party (Voice chat)By using the Mono Headset bundled with the PS4 system, users will be able to chat with up to eight friends enjoying different applications or games. Furthermore, users can use Party to chat between PS4 and PS Vita systems.
· Face recognition and voice commands*10Users with PlayStation®Camera will be able to register their facial image onto their PS4 system, and login to their system using facial recognition instead of DUALSHOCK®4. Furthermore, users can use either the microphone of the Mono Head set connected to DUALSHOCK®4, or PlayStation®Camera to navigate through the PS4 home screen (PlayStation®Dynamic Menu) with voice commands to start up games and shutdown the system, among other features*11.
· Background music playerUsers can enjoy gameplay while listening to music in the background with Music Unlimited, a cloud-based digital music service*12. Users can also voice chat with friends while listening to music.
· Online MultiplayerPlayStation®Plus (PS Plus) members will be able to play PS4 titles online with other players via the network. PS Plus makes it easy for members to join available online multiplayer matches in a variety of ways, including the ability to easily join a game from a live stream broadcast or Party voice chats.
· Blu-ray Disc™ and DVD playerUsers can enjoy not only gaming on their PS4 system, but also Blu-ray and DVD video contents*13.

This is becoming something of a trend: Microsoft has said the Xbox One will also require a day-one patch to use, which they say will take 15-20 minutes to download.

The Wii U also required a day-one patch, which was 1 GB and triggered all sorts of stress in new Wii U owners who had to wait hours before they could actually use the system.

Same, I'm practically bursting with excitement to see the Xbone's patch-screen. The Xbone won my pre-order for having a bigger day one patch cause the PS4's inferior 300MB patch will be downloaded before you can have any time to really enjoy it. Enjoy your PSF (the F stands for fail), I'll be thinking of you when I'm knee deep in my 2GB patch screen, lol

Same issue now, though - you need to go online to download firmware updates for any console / device. But as far as I can tell from this article, the difference is that you don't NEED this firmware update - if you bring your PS4 and a game home you'll still be able to play the game, you just won't be able to take it online and some functionality (much of it online-related anyway like online play, party chat) won't be available until you get the update. The XBone, on the other hand, requires the day 1 patch to be able to use it (if I'm understanding this article correctly, anyway).

However i would say the dvd bluray player not working without a patch is a huge issue and puts it in the same boat as the XB1, unless they worded that really badly and mean something entirely different.

I really don't understand this, how the fuck does a bluray NOT play movies without a patch?

I mean I don't really care a 300mb patch is nothing in the grand scheme (until 1 million people are all downloading at once >.<) But why is 99% of this not on the console already, i seriously doubt it was all done post production so to speak and it also breaks the entire console for anyone without internet unless I'm missing something.

That's not at all relevant, If i buy a US ps3 its going to have US power chords and its going to be region 1 for blurays/dvds (non games), period.

IF i buy an aussie one its going to be the appropriate region, trying to swap and change after the fact isn't exactly legal.

They will also be set that way when manufactured. If they aren't set that way, then the units sold in australia aren't allowed to then "re lock" the player after the point of sale because to do so would be infringing apon my legal right to a region free player. (This has to do with how the laws are which also lets them get away with not providing region free stuff at retail, basically they can't have it both ways).

So I understand your point but it's not correct and nor is it a reason to disable a disk drive till "updated".

Go read the actual law about region codeing devices yourself and you will understand.

I have a legal right to modify any device i wish to be region free in australia, by that same token the companies are free to sell both locked or unlocked, they are also free to not hand out codes to unlock those devices and are also free to give out codes that unlock those devices.

However, if I buy a ps4 and it is in fact region free for dvd/bluray. If they then try and force an update which would then restrict this by region locking it (which would be after the point of sale), it would be clearly illegal. There is no room for interpretation there at all.

The above situation is the only reason the disk drive would not work at launch without a patch, because if its already region coded there is no reason to disable it in the first place.

As i said the ONLY other alternative is that it flat out doesn't have the software to run without the patch, in which case the console needs to have a notification somewhere on the box stating internet REQUIRED (which i also said at the start). Otherwise they are lying to consumers (does not work as describe laws), who would be entitled to a refund.

Just out of sheer curiosity... Microsoft had a whole heap of backpedaling to do over the past few months, which involved changing the way the console works in a fairly significant way; going from always online and registering all games so they're effectively one-use back to the existing console model. They've been talking about the day one update for months.

Sony, on the other hand, hasn't — while all the online and streaming features requiring an update makes sense, is there any indication as to why people can't use the camera or play DVD/BR discs at launch?

the software simply isnt ready before xmas, the hardware is. they are making these things now for launch. so they build it with the ability to roll out these missing features on day one.
then they continue to update it over the next n years.
seems pretty simple to me

Sound reasoning. I used to travel for work and I learned that most DVD players are region locked by a simple command that can usually be added/removed via a code you enter on the remote control. This allows them, as you said, to make all the units identically and then lock them to specific regions afterwards.

Kinda useless though since about 90% of blu-rays these days are region free (despite having specific regions listen on the covers). I can't wait for regions to go away.

I would say you can still play games without a connection... Just not online with video sharing...which you need a connection for anyway.

Still rather silly that some of those things were not in the box. I suppose it was a case of push production forward and drop files in via a patch day one or delay the start of the manufacturing process.

I feel that Sony has kinda managed to dodge a lot of ire they should have received in the lead up to the next consoles. Microsoft and Nintendo have both made really shitty decisions recently, but for some reason Sony seems to be the company that can't do any wrong. I mean, they have begun charging for online multiplayer and I heard barely a mutter of disapproval about it.

If that is seriously the case, its totally messed up.There are just too many crazy Sony fanboys.

I can still agree, Nintendo and Microsoft have done some very stupid things. But they are the companies i normally buy from, in fact i have owned every Nintendo and Microsoft console ever and only one Sony (being the PS1) I just feel like Sony games have no love in them at all. Soulless consoles. Not that they do everything wrong its just...... i don't know, it feels like they don't love me haha